Basket-runner clamp.



H. WBGWART.

BASKET RUNNER CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1914.

1,1 33,41 6. Patented Mar. 30,1915.

Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN WEGWART, 0F BURLINGTON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BADGER BASKET & VENEER 00., OF BURLINGTON, WISCONSIN.

BASKET-RUNNER CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN WEGWART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Basket-Runner Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in basket runner clamps, one object of the present invention, being the provision of a clamp designed to set over the top of the runner and to be attached thereto by a screw or rivet counter sunk that also holds the basket attached to the runner, the body of said clamp being interposed between the bottom of the basket and the upper surface of the runner and having terminals disposed to embrace the runner and yet not to project below the surface to offer an obstruction as the basket or hamper is pulled over the floor, the terminals being made malleable so that the same may be bent inwardly to grip or clamp the runner upon opposite sides to thus hold the runner in proper place even though the runner may be split or broken at the connection of the clamp thereto.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the present clamp attached to a runner and the bottom of a basket, portions of both being illustrated. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through the runner showing the present clamp attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp per se.

Referring to the drawings, R indicates a runner of the type adapted to beattached to and support a basket, the bottom B of which is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 as being attached to and carrying the runner R. It is usual in this type of basket to provide the bore 1 through the runner having the counter sunk portion 2 at the under side thereof for the reception of the rivet or screw 3 which is adapted to be inserted from beneath so that its head will seat within the copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the counter sunk portion, said screw or rivet being passed through the aperture 4 of the clamping member 5 and finally riveted through and upon the under side of the basket bottom.

The terminals 6 0f the clamp are slightly reduced so as to be tapered in longitudinal cross section, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 and as the clamp is made of a malleable metal, its terminals 6 may be readily clamped toward the body so as to embrace tightly the body of the runner R, which is made of wood and the grain of which runs longitudinally. Therefore should the runner split either longitudinally or transversely adjacent the point of clamping, the terminals 6 will properly hold the runner against separation. In practice it has been found that most runners of this character break at the point adjacent to the screw or rivet and where no clamp as herein shown is employed, the runner will separate at this point either downwardly or laterally, and therefore render the basket useless until a new runner is applied. It has been found in practice where the present clamp is employed that the broken portion of the runner will be held intact at the point of the rivet or screw and that the life of the basket due to the holding of the runner by the clamp will be greatly increased.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a basket runner, and a fastening piercing the runner and basket, of a reinforcing clamp fitting upon the upper surface of the runner and embracing the sides, said clamp being interposed between the bottom of the basket and the top of the runner.

2. The combination with a basket runner, and a fastening piercing the runner and basket, of a substantially U-shaped malleable metal clamp having an aperture to receive the fastening and fitting astride the runner, the intermediate portion of the clamp being interposed between the bottom of the basket and the runner.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN WEGWART.

Witnesses:

RALPH W. STORY, KATHERINE WABREK.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. O." 

